Eat Like an Animal – Nutritional Nutrition For Dogs and Puppies

Food is any material consumed by an organism to give it nutritional support in the form of food. In most cases food is of animal, plant or fungi origin, and has necessary nutrients, including proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, fat, or minerals. Food is the basic need for all living things. It is the primary source of energy, the number one fuel for the metabolic processes of all living things, the source of growth and development of both plant and animal tissue, and the primary source of nutrition for all of these organisms.

The first thing that one notices when talking about food is the variety. There are literally thousands of types of food, and even more conditions that food comes in that we may not fully understand. For example, consider carbohydrates. All plants contain carbohydrates. They are the first source of energy for plants, they give plants the storage capacity for other food, they provide the food supply for the microorganisms in the soil for plant growth and the storage of carbohydrates for future use. Without carbohydrates in the diet, a plant cannot grow, it can’t store food, and it cannot get the sugar that it needs to grow and mature.

The next thing we notice in the variety of foods available, and their uses, is the structure of food. Each food type varies in its chemical makeup, its vitamin content and its mineral content. The structure also varies greatly in the nutrients the molecules of the food contain. All of this has an effect on the body, and the health of those who eat the foods that are available.

The structure and components of food also affect nutrition, as well. Some types of food are low in fat, some contain fat, and some contain more fat than other foods. Vitamins and minerals are affected by the structure as well. A good example is that whole grains contain carbohydrates, but have more fiber and less fat than refined grains, which are high in fat and don’t have as much fiber.

So how do you plan on eating the foods that you need to stay healthy? First, realize that everyone’s nutritional needs are different. Your body can’t use all of the vitamins and nutrients available. By working with your personal nutritionist to determine what your individual needs are and then following a nutritional program based on that, you can ensure that you get all the nutrients your body needs, in the right proportions.

Second, use whole foods to provide energy and live. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds and other healthy, edible living things provide a wide range of vitamins and minerals, fiber and energy that don’t come from animal products or processed foods. Animals feed us for meat and milk and then kill them to eat their own meat and milk, so the food that they produce for us, our ancestors, was not at all nutritious. But, by eating whole foods, such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains, we can provide our bodies with all the nutrients we need to maintain good health and function normally.